Method for starting up a pre-reforming stage

US10259708B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude · FR

Inventors

• Veronika Gronemann · Karben, DE
• Jörg Ott · Munich, DE
• Theis Ohlhaver · Frankfurt am Main, DE
• Paul Manfred Krimlowski · Frankfurt am Main, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 5, 2014
• Grant date: Apr 16, 2019
• Expiry date: Dec 2, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C01B2203/1604
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

There is proposed a method for starting up a pre-reforming stage in an integrated reforming plant in which a hydrocarbonaceous feed stream, in particular natural gas, is converted into a reformation product containing carbon oxides, hydrogen and hydrocarbons. Before carrying out the start-up method, the catalyst contained in the pre-reforming stage is in an oxidized or passivated state. For its activation, the pre-reforming catalyst is charged with a methanol/steam mixture, from which by steam reformation of methanol in situ the hydrogen required for the activation of the catalyst is produced. Excess hydrogen is used for the hydrogen supply of the desulfurization stage arranged upstream of the pre-reforming stage.